Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1887-06-16
WILL THEY DO IT?

town OK tents there has been q turbulent
stream flowing past our doors, which has
ever been the cause Of our peoples
greatest woes. 1t would be quite as
impossible, under the existing state Of
affairs to stop this stream or to turn i,
into other channels, as it would have
been to have entirely managed the Clear.
water, prepared as we were, during the
last high water. We fully realize the
hardships and loss eutailcd by that "rlse;'
but during all these years, this smaller
stream has brought misery and filth into
some OF our yards aud homes, whether
the days have been cold or whether the
warm west wind has blown. 1t matters
not so far as our present interests, or our
capacities to help ourselves, are concern
ed, if this perilous stream have its course
in the mountain glaciers of maus love OF
money or in the rocky valleys Of de.
PRAYED appetite. Springing from either
or both combined, makes but little diff
ference to us, in as much as the time
necessary to moderate the one or abate
the other would be SO long that i'm
mediate peril would, meanwhile, over
come us. What concerns us Is that
which can be done now to lessen the
evils resulting from the unrestricted
flowing of this stream. Liquor traffic,
or which will in some degree render
compensation for the damages done by
it. We cannot stop this stream; but it
is within our power to check and control
it. The mountain torrent is made to
subserve useful ends by means of dam
Of logs supported by rocky banks so
may this other stream be checked and
controlled by means OF license, supported
by wholesome restrictions of our city
council, and directed by an upright
custodian Of the peace. We do not pre-
sumo to declare that licensing the saloons
Of our city will check all of the evils
arising from intemperance: we do not
believe that it will do 80; but we do
believe it is the only measure that can be
adopted which in any way will tend to
bring about the desired result-temper
ance. BY means Of the license the num-
Der OF the saloons in our city will DO
reduced, and that in itself is thing very
much desired. This is the history Of
all places in which the license system has
been tried; and what is of considerable
Importance in view of the end to be at
tanned, it is the lowest doggcries which
first succumb to this system. 1t may be
granted that "gin' is not in itself an evil;
and yet it must be granted that evils do
result from its unrestricted use. Then
let the council place restrictions upon
the persons licensed, such as prohibiting
minors from frequenting their places Of
business under penalty of the revocation
Of the license; prohibiting the selling OF
liquors Of any kind to minors or habitual
drunkards undey like penalty aud
even place limit to the time at which
the saloons shall be open. Persons
injured by the violations of these ordin-
ances would thus become important
factors in the abatement of such Infringe
ments; and each owner of saloon
would be as anxious, for selfish reasons,
that no unlicensed or unlawful dealers
should sell any rum.
II there were roaming at large dan
gerous animal whlcL the laws OF the
country and public sentiment prevented
US from killing and which was in our
power to put into cage, We should be
most foolish if we did not do so. II is
not in our power to kill the rum business,
but the power is vested in the city
council to cage it by the system OF per-
mission, call it license, high license or
what not. Let it be remembered that
the proceeds from these permits to sell
liquor, whether with or without restrc-
tons, goes directly into the city treasury
to be used as the city council may d.
rect. Our greatest need for city
marshal is occasioned almost entirely by
that intemperance and consequent ex-
cesses which The saloon encourages; and
what could be more in harmony with the
eternal fitness of things than that the
saloon-keepers should pay into the city
treasury sam sufficient, at least, to pay |
the police who nre to watch them and |
see that their victims do no harm. That
intoxicating drinks are sold in our city |
is patent fact, and it is matter entire
y beyond our power to stop even if we
desired to do SO; but we can control i
rs all other cities and towns have long
been wont to do by licensing the saloons.
It is to the interest of the teetotalers,
lrunkards and liquor dealers alike that
uch a system be adopted by our city
'ourcil. The new as well as the old
members Of the council and the new
nayor have an opportunitv To do n yood